Written answers

Tuesday, 24 May 2022

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Office of Public Works

Photo of Claire KerraneClaire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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175. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 236 of 22 June 2021, if he will provide an updated list of vacant properties in the same format; the estimated value of each property; and if any of these properties have been earmarked for use as a regional work hub. [26313/22]

Photo of Patrick O'DonovanPatrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that there are currently 72 vacant properties (buildings). Over half (48) of these are former Garda stations and residences, most of which closed under the 2012/2013 policing plans of An Garda Síochána.

The Office of Public Works (OPW), like other State bodies, is obliged to follow central Government policies and protocols on the disposal of surplus properties. The approach to managing vacant properties is firstly, to establish if the property is required for alternative State use, including the potential for it to be re-purposed either for Government Departments or for the wider public service.

As a matter of policy, no property is disposed of until there is certainty that there is no alternative State use for that property. The OPW, as a matter of course, consults with the Land Development Agency, Local Authorities, the Health Service Executive, the Department of Education and other State bodies in advance of any decision on the future of a property.

In 2021, the OPW also engaged with the Department of Rural and Community Development to discuss the use of the former Garda stations. The OPW provided the Department of Rural and Community Development with a list of former Garda stations which closed as part of the 2012 and 2013 Policing Plans. This was provided in order for that Department to evaluate the properties for community use and/or regional hubs. The OPW has not been made aware by the Department that any of the properties are required for regional hubs. In addition, a list of vacant properties and sites has been provided to the Departments managing the humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine.

Once it has been established that surplus properties are not suitable for alternative State use, the OPW then considers if open market disposal is a viable option. Prior to disposing of a property, the OPW may re-evaluate the property’s potential and decide whether there may be a benefit to retaining a strategic property or site for future use or development. In this specific context, the OPW must take a long-term view on the potential future utility of such properties rather than seeking short-term commercial gain.

Finally, the OPW may consider community involvement, subject to a detailed submission that demonstrates that the community or voluntary group seeking to use the property has the means to insure, maintain and manage it in order to reduce costs to the Exchequer.

The table below lists those properties that are being planned for disposal during 2022/2023, unless alternative State use is identified in advance of disposal.

In relation to properties being prepared for disposal on the open market, auctioneers are appointed by the OPW following a procurement process. The auctioneers determine an Advised Market Value (AMV) on the properties in advance of sale. However, the market will ultimately determine the value of the properties through the auction process.

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